The Current Why risky play is good for kids
Mar 20, 2026
Alexandra Lange, architecture and design critic who writes about play spaces, and Mariana Brussoni, pediatrician and researcher on children’s risky outdoor play. They discuss why thrilling, uncertain activities build resilience and skills. They critique dull, fenced playgrounds and describe junk-play spaces, safety tradeoffs, and how communities and design can make adventurous play possible.
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Neighborhood Kids Describe Risky Play Adventures
- Kids in Vancouver described building a risky treehouse, riding dumpster-drawn “cars,” failed ziplines, and staged bike crashes with no parental supervision.
- Their playful stories show freedom, creativity, and resilience despite potential hazards like falling or encountering a stranger in a van.
Risky Play Builds Emotional Resilience
- Mariana Brussoni defines risky play as thrilling, uncertain activities that carry chance of physical injury, like heights, speed, rough-and-tumble, and tool use.
- She argues uncertainty is valuable because it trains children to manage strong emotions, build self-confidence, and resilience.
Broken Bones Are Not The Worst Outcome
- Serious injuries that society fears are rare; broken bones are generally not classed as 'serious' and surgeons prefer kids playing and getting treatable injuries.
- Brussoni notes clinicians would rather fix bones than restrict play, emphasizing long-term benefits.